Books Published

Title: Palestine to Israel: Mandate to State, 1945-1948, Volume I

Author: Monty Noam Penkower

Published: December 2018

Seventy years after the creation of the State of Israel, Palestine to Israel: Mandate to State, 1945-1948 offers the definitive narrative of the achievement of Jewish sovereignty in the beleaguered Promised Land. Professor Monty Noam Penkower explores developments in Palestine and in the Arab states, including how the Palestine quagmire became a pawn in inter-Arab feuds; British and American responses both official and public; the role of Holocaust survivors; the context of the Cold War; and the saga as it unfolded in the corridors of the United Nations. Joining extensive archival research to a lucid prose, the two volumes offer a riveting conclusion to his Palestine in Turmoil and Decision on Palestine Deferred.

Seventy years after the creation of the State of Israel, Palestine to Israel: Mandate to State, 1945-1948 offers the definitive narrative of the achievement of Jewish sovereignty in the beleaguered Promised Land. Professor Monty Noam Penkower explores developments in Palestine and in the Arab states, including how the Palestine quagmire became a pawn in inter-Arab feuds; British and American responses both official and public; the role of Holocaust survivors; the context of the Cold War; and the saga as it unfolded in the corridors of the United Nations. Joining extensive archival research to a lucid prose, the two volumes offer a riveting conclusion to his Palestine in Turmoil and Decision on Palestine Deferred.

Title: Jewish Law and American Law: A Comparative Study, Volumes 1 & 2

Author: Samuel J. Levine

Published: August 2018

These volumes contribute to the growing field of comparative Jewish and American law, presenting twenty-six essays characterized by a number of distinct features. The essays will appeal to legal scholars and, at the same time, will be accessible and of interest to a more general audience of intellectually curious readers. These contributions are faithful to Jewish law on its own terms, while applying comparative methods to offer fresh perspectives on complex issues in the Jewish legal system. Through careful comparative analysis, the essays also turn to Jewish law to provide insights into substantive and conceptual areas of the American legal system, particularly areas of American law that are complex, controversial, and unsettled.

While the oft-quoted saying “the more things change, the more they stay the same” seems to aptly describe the nature of social life, the reverse may be equally accurate: the more things stay the same, the more they change. Indeed, the recognized institutions of human society, of which religion is a primary example, are both sources of stability and continuity as well as innovation and change. The dynamics of Jewish religious continuity and change are presented in this book through a group of distinguished scholars from the fields of sociology, history, medicine, religion, and Jewish studies examining key cases and themes in religious life, emphasizing illustrations of the maintenance of tradition and facing of trends pressing for transformation.

This volume demonstrates the importance of case studies and historical, ideological, and philosophical surveys in understanding the actions of individual, organizational or communal actors attempting to create, maintain, or disrupt religious institutions, across geographical boundaries and time frames. This research has the potential not only to positively affect scholarly discussions, but also to generate greater understanding and dialogue among those who study Jewish life and those who work in Jewish organizations and live and function in religious communities. Indeed, the book brings a sophisticated understanding of Jewish law, religious texts, communities and institutions, of the interplay of internal and external social and ideological forces, of the impact of organizations, and of the potential for individuals and groups to shape their religious environments.

Title: The Unique Judicial Vision of Rabbi Meir Simcha of Dvinsk - Selected Discourses in Meshekh Hokhmah and Or Sameah

Edited by: Yitshak Cohen

Published: September 2016

This book analyzes the exceptional normative impact of R. Meir Simcha Hacohen’s Biblical commentary, Meshekh Hokhmah, and his halakhic commentary, Or Sameah. It examines the reliance of the poskim on R. Meir Simcha’s innovations and hermeneutic methods as well as their view of his interpretations that broadened or narrowed the scope of Maimonides’ rulings. The book explores the broad-based judicial principles underlying R. Meir Simcha’s legal decisions and approach to Jewish law. It further examines how his legal creativity was impacted by metahalakhic principles that guided him in addressing changing historical and social realities. The book also considers R. Meir Simcha’s unique attitudes toward gentiles. His approach attests to his innovativeness and his halakhic moderation, as he tried to rule as leniently as possible on matters concerning non-Jews. In this book, R. Meir Simcha is shown to be a truly
influential rabbi whose contributions will long be a source of study and discussion.

Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra’s commentary is one of the great biblical exegeses produced by medieval Jewry. His commentary accompanies almost every version of the Rabbinic Bible, and his influence on biblical studies continues to this very day. Ibn Ezra sought to provide the literal meaning of the biblical text. However, he did more than that. His commentary is saturated with insights into Hebrew grammar, medieval philosophy, and astrology. Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra’s Commentary on Books 3–5 of Psalms: Chapters 73–150 completes the publication of the translation and annotation of Ibn Ezra’s commentary to Psalms, making it available to both scholars and general readers.

Conflict and change are fundamental elements of social reality and of the Jewish historical experience. This collection presents the work of a distinguished group of scholars exploring the themes of social, political, religious, intellectual, and institutional movements and change in Jewish history. These scholars demonstrate that social change throughout Jewish life has
assumed many different manifestations, and can occur in revolutionary and dramatic ways as well as in more common gradual and evolutionary processes. In the first volume, the essays
revolve around two themes: “Mobilizations and Contentious Politics,” and “Social Trends, Communal and Institutional Change.” The second volume is devoted to “Developments in
Philosophy, Ideology, and Religious Practice.” Taken together, these two volumes present scholarship rich with both historical and contemporary relevance, of interest to academics and students in Jewish studies and the social sciences, communal leaders and policy makers, and anyone intrigued by the Jewish experience.

Conflict and change are fundamental elements of social reality and of the Jewish historical experience. This collection presents the work of a distinguished group of scholars exploring the themes of social, political, religious, intellectual, and institutional movements and change in Jewish history. These scholars demonstrate that social change throughout Jewish life has
assumed many different manifestations, and can occur in revolutionary and dramatic ways as well as in more common gradual and evolutionary processes. In the first volume, the essays
revolve around two themes: “Mobilizations and Contentious Politics,” and “Social Trends, Communal and Institutional Change.” The second volume is devoted to “Developments in
Philosophy, Ideology, and Religious Practice.” Taken together, these two volumes present scholarship rich with both historical and contemporary relevance, of interest to academics and students in Jewish studies and the social sciences, communal leaders and policy makers, and anyone intrigued by the Jewish experience.

This book looks into the creative minds of some recent, mostly “defunct” economists. Many of the authors, such as Samuelson, Friedman, Galbraith, and Heilbroner, have penned popular works, while their scientific contributions were limited to the most specialized scholars. Others, such as Nobel Prize winners Modigliani, Debreu, Becker, Aumann, and Allais, delved into complex issues in human organization, economic growth and planning, socio-economic theory, and model building. Economists such as Keynes and Lowe represent world-class paragons whose influences continue to percolate in current research programs. Here we unearth their best scientific work, revealing gems that might otherwise be overlooked.

Title: Paleontology and Geology of the Martinsburg, Shawangunk, Onondaga, and Hornerstown Formations (Northeastern United States) with Some Field Guides

Author: Howard R. Feldman

Published: October 2015

The chapters in this book will cover the paleontology and geology of some important rock formations (Paleozoic and Paleogene) in the northeastern United States. The emphasis will be on brachiopod paleontology, specifically taxonomy, but will also include comments on morphologic variation and community analysis. The Martinsburg formation in the lower mid-Hudson Valley has been studied for many years but recently yielded numerous marine fossils that shed new light on the community ecology of the formation in the region. The Middle Silurian Shawangunk Formation near New Paltz, New York, is an important ridge-maker that extends toward the southwest into Pennsylvania. Recently discovered rare trace fossils in the Shawangunk will be discussed along with the depositional environment of the conglomerate. The Onondaga Limestone is a well-known formation that crops out from Port Jervis, northeast toward Albany and the westward to Buffalo. The brachiopods and community structure of the formation will be covered in some detail. The paleoecology of the Paleogene Hornerstown Formation of New Jersey will also be discussed, including a biostrome of large terebratulid brachiopods.

This comprehensive account by a distinguished historian examines the growing conflict between Arab and Jew in Palestine that first surfaced clearly in the pivotal years 1933-1939, and which proved to be an irreconcilable rift once the leadership of both peoples refused to accept minority status. A compelling narrative, lucidly written and rooted in extensive archival sources.

This comprehensive account by a distinguished historian examines the growing conflict between Arab and Jew in Palestine that first surfaced clearly in the pivotal years 1933-1939, and which proved to be an irreconcilable rift once the leadership of both peoples refused to accept minority status. A compelling narrative, lucidly written and rooted in extensive archival sources.

Title: At the Intersection of Education, Marketing, and Transformation

Author: Sabra Brock

Published: October 30, 2013

This collection of essays authored or co-authored by a prominent educator examines significant changes in the last decade in the fields of education and marketing. These articles will provide insights for educators and educational administrators, as well as business practitioners, especially marketers.

This book consists of a series of papers authored or co-authored by a noted scholar that help to unravel the taxonomy of the phylum Brachiopoda and describe associated marine communities in the Levant. It represents an important contribution to our knowledge of the evolution of modern marine communities.

Fifteen essays by distinguished scholars on subjects ranging from the status of women through the lens of rabbinic aggadah, to studies in the methods of interpretation of aggadah in the writings of Maimonides, Nahmanides and R. Moses b. Judah in the 12th-13th centuries, R. Isaac Abarbanel, R. Moses Almosnino, R. Samuel de Uceda, R. Azariah de Rossi, R. Joseph Ashkenazi, and the Maharal in the 15th-16th centuries, and R. Isaac of Karlin in the 19th century. Two essays explore the history of interpretation of a celebrated passage of the Passover Haggadah.

A collection of more than forty tributes delivered at the funeral and subsequent shloshim assemblies in memory of Rabbi Dr. Bernard Lander, the remarkable Founder and first President of Touro College. The tributes contained within this volume paint an insightful portrait of this preeminent leader of twentieth century Jewry, and serve as a source of inspiration for the reader.

Title: TURIM: Studies in Jewish History and Literature Presented to Dr. Bernard Lander Volume Two

Editor: Michael A. Shmidman

Published: September 5, 2008

Essays by sixteen leading scholars in the areas of medieval and modern Jewish history, literature and thought, in honor of the Founder and distinguished first President of Touro College, Rabbi Dr. Bernard Lander.

Title: TURIM: Studies in Jewish History and Literature Presented to Dr. Bernard Lander Volume One

Editor: Michael A. Shmidman

Published: May 17, 2007

The first of two volumes of essays in honor of the Founder and distinguished first President of Touro College, Rabbi Dr. Bernard Lander, including contributions from thirteen leading scholars in fields ranging from the Dead Sea Scrolls to medieval and modern Jewish history, and from biblical commentary and rabbinic literature to Jewish philosophy, ethics and law.